28. The Shire set
The Shire is a fictional region in Tolkien’s world. It measures around 40 leagues, and is based on rural England.
The Shire – a rural paradise
Hobbiton – Frodo and Sam’s hometown – is within the Shire. A set was built for the film in Matamata, New Zealand.
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It was built with hobbit holes, and the builders allowed greenery to grow freely. Jackson wrote,
“I knew Hobbiton needed to be warm, comfortable and feel lived in. By letting the weeds grow through the cracks and establishing hedges and little gardens a year before filming, we ended up with an incredibly real place, not just a film set.”
The set was full of hobbit holes
For The Lord of the Rings, the set was made out of non-permanent materials. This meant that it was torn down afterwards.
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Despite this, flocks of tourists traveled every year to see the infamous setting of the Shire.
Experience the magic of Hobbiton…
So much so, that when Jackson returned to film The Hobbit, he decided to have the set made out of permanent materials. Now everyone can go and see the Shire – or at least they can for as long as the set lasts!
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